(IBM), (MSFT), (GOOG), (HON), (QBTS), (IONQ)
There's something oddly domestic about the scene at ETH Zürich's quantum lab, where a cluster of physicists are hovering over what looks like an elaborate microwave dinner plate.
Except this particular plate costs roughly the same as a small yacht and might just revolutionize artificial intelligence as we know it.
These physicists just managed to create something called a “mechanical qubit” – the quantum computing equivalent of finally teaching a cat to fetch.
And while most of us were busy arguing about whether our chatbots have feelings, these scientists might have just altered the future of AI.
Naturally, this required a pilgrimage to the holy grail of quantum computing: IBM's facility, where the air is colder than a penguin's lunch box and the machinery hums with the sort of expectant energy usually reserved for rocket launches.
A researcher – let's call him Dave, because that's his name – is trying to explain to me why this new mechanical qubit is such a big deal.
"Traditional qubits are like temperamental opera singers," he says, adjusting his safety goggles. "They need perfect conditions, or everything falls apart. But these mechanical ones? They're more like street musicians – they can perform in less than ideal conditions."
The technical term for what makes these new qubits special is "piezoelectric material," which I've now attempted to pronounce correctly 17 times. The key idea here is that they're more stable than their predecessors.
And here's where things get interesting for anyone with a stock portfolio and a passion for technological gambling (I mean, investing).
The global quantum computing market, currently lounging at a modest $1.3 billion in 2024, is expected to bulk up to $5.3 billion by 2029.
That's a 32.7% compound annual growth rate – the kind of numbers that make venture capitalists wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat of excitement.
Speaking of venture capitalists, they've been throwing money at quantum technology startups like sailors on shore leave – $2.35 billion in 2022 alone.
In fact, global public investment has reached $42 billion, which is roughly the GDP of Brunei. And as expected, the usual tech suspects are all over this like ants at a picnic.
IBM (IBM), which has more quantum computers than most people have coffee mugs, has developed something called Qiskit, which sounds like a Scandinavian breakfast cereal but is actually a quantum software development kit.
Microsoft's (MSFT) Azure Quantum platform is bringing quantum computing to the clouds (not those clouds – the digital ones).
Meanwhile, Google's (GOOG) been strutting around since 2019 claiming "quantum supremacy," which sounds like a rejected Marvel movie title but actually means they did something really impressive with quantum computers that I'm told changed everything.
Then there's Honeywell (HON), which spun off its quantum division into something called Quantinuum, presumably because all the good quantum company names were taken.
They're sharing the quantum playground with pure-play companies like IonQ (IONQ) and D-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS), the latter of which specializes in quantum annealing, which, contrary to what it sounds like, has nothing to do with heat therapy.
And here's where the quantum story gets interesting for anyone clutching their investment portfolio: these companies aren't just pushing scientific boundaries – they're pushing market valuations into what Dave calls “the twilight zone of growth.”
We're talking about a jump from $239.4 million in 2023 to $3.9 billion by 2033. To put that in perspective, that's like turning a nice Honda Civic into a fleet of Lamborghinis in 10 years.
But before you sell your house to invest in quantum computing stocks, there's a catch. (Isn't there always?)
The technology is still unpredictable. Technical barriers persist, commercialization timelines are fuzzy, and the ethical implications of super-powered AI remain debatable.
Still, the academic paper mill churns on with impressive determination.
In 2022 alone, there were 1,589 quantum technology-related patents granted and 44,155 publications, which is either a sign of incredible progress or proof that a lot of physicists need to justify their research grants.
But while academics race to publish, investors face a more practical question: where to put their money? The safest bet might be the tech giants – your IBMs, Microsofts, and Alphabets.
They're like the aircraft carriers of the tech world: slow to turn, but hard to sink.
The more adventurous might consider pure-play quantum companies like IonQ and D-Wave, though investing in these is a bit like betting on which butterfly's wingbeat will cause the next tornado.
The potential payoff by 2040? A cool $850 billion. But remember, that's the same year we're supposed to have flying cars and robot butlers, so maybe keep some money in your savings account.
As I leave IBM's quantum facility, Dave tells me something that sticks: “Quantum computing isn't just about making computers faster – it's about solving problems we didn't even know we could solve.”
I nod sagely, pretending I completely understand, while mentally calculating whether I should move my retirement fund into quantum computing stocks.
The mechanical qubit might be microscopic, but like Max Planck discovering that the smallest units of energy could reshape physics, it's showing us that the tiniest technological advances might just revolutionize our financial futures.
Just remember: even Einstein called quantum mechanics “spooky” – and that goes double for quantum investing.
